SIMON GELSDORF
Pianist · Arranger · Composer · Educator
ABOUT ME
Simon Gelsdorf (b. 1997) is a jazz pianist, arranger, and composer based in The Hague. In recent years, he has collaborated as an arranger with a variety of orchestras, bigbands, and large ensembles across the Netherlands — most notably with the prestigious, Grammy Award-winning Metropole Orkest feat. Dutch Pop singer Naaz.
As a pianist, Simon is an active figure in the Dutch music scene. He is involved in various jazz projects and regularly performs in musical theatre productions. His credits include shows such as Moulin Rouge, Frozen, and Aida, and starting in October 2025, he will join the cast of West Side Story.
In 2025, he completed his Master’s degree in Jazz Arranging and Composition at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, following his graduation in 2022 from the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague, where he earned a degree in Jazz Piano with special distinction for “Outstanding Composing and Arranging.” In 2017, he received both a scholarship and an “Outstanding Musicianship” award from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but ultimately chose to pursue his artistic vision and build a career within the Dutch jazz scene.
Simon is a versatile arranger, adept in a wide range of styles — from traditional and modern jazz to pop and classical music. His arrangements are characterised by intricate voice leading, emotional climaxes, and a unique artistic signature, always respectful of the genre’s character while adding his personal touch. In addition to the Metropole Orkest, he has arranged for the Jong Metropole, and a Quincy Jones tribute featuring leading figures from the Dutch pop scene such as Steffen Morrison and Edsilia Rombley, as well as for plenty of bigbands including the Paradox Jazzorchestra, NJO, and West Coast Bigband.
Simon’s compositions draw from ECM-style jazz, classical orchestration, and Indian Carnatic rhythms. He leads the EigenGrau Ensemble, an octet blending jazz, strings, and vocals into cinematic, emotionally rich music inspired by film composers like Joe Hisaishi and Hans Zimmer. Their work is available on all major streaming platforms.
In 2022, he released a fully improvised debut album with trumpeter Kristians Kalva, using only titles and keys as prompts — an approach they also bring to interactive live performances.
Simon also explores early jazz with The Royal Croquettes, arranging and performing vintage swing and New Orleans jazz with a fresh, creative touch.
